Brassiere attachment



July 21, 1959 A. FIXEL BRASSIERE ATTACHMENT Filed June 24, 1957 IN VEN TOR. ANNE FIXEL JOEL HALPERN ATTG'FWEY.

United States Patent 2,895,480 BRASSIERE ATTACHMENT Anne Fixel, Brooklyn, N .Y. Application June 24, 1957, Serial No. 667,599 3 Claims. (31. 128-453) This invention relates to attachments for brassieres and more particularly to an attachment for a brassiere adapted for the use of mastectomy patientsand other females who, are not naturally endowed with breasts of identical size and configuration.

7 It is well known that a well-fitting breast essential in establishing normal appearance and morale. The problem, however, is acute where mastectomy patientsjare concernedinview of the traumatic experience which is occasioned by the removal of a breast.

The present invention will be described with respect to its use for mastectomy patients, but it is to be understood that the invention is equally operable and effective whenever natural balancing and normal alignment of the breasts are desired. Thus, the present invention may be employed at either or both breasts as desired.

The present invention provides, with a minimum of expense and effort, means for converting a conventional brassiere to one which has all the attributes of a custommade breast form and which enables the wearer to achieve the desired natural balance and normal alignment.

Heretofore various types of inserts and built-in aids have been available. However, in use, these aids proved to be inadequate since movement of the body, such as bending, stretching, dancing, etc. has caused the bra-cup of the removed breast to ride up. This has resulted in complete distortion of the breast line, giving the appearance of lopsidedness and the feeling of physical unbalance. The mental well-being and psychological security of the mastectomy patient is severely disturbed in these circumstances.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a brassiere attachment which will maintain the breastline in natural alignment. Another object of this invention is to provide a brassiere attachment which can conveniently be placed in position with a minimum of effort and expense to achieve physical balance and thus afford to a mastectomy patient a feeling of confidence and security, thereby relieving mental anxiety. It is a further object of this invention to provide a mastectomy patient with a device which can readily be secured to a conventional brassiere in order to secure the advantages of a natural breastline.

According to the present invention there is provided a brassiere stabilizing and stocking supporting attachment which comprises an elastic strip of sufiicient length to extend between a brassiere and stocking top, said strip being adapted to be secured at one end to the lower portion of a short-line brassiere and at the other end to the top of said stocking, means being provided intermediate the ends of said strip for adjusting the end to end length thereof. There is further provided the combination of a brassiere and attachment therefor, which comprises a short-line brassiere having cup portions and a lower marginal edge portion, a brassiere stabilizing and stocking supporting elastic strip of sufiicient length to form is up 2,895,480 "Patented July 21, 1959 extend between said brassiere and the top of a stocking being secured at one end thereof to said lower marginal edge portion of the brassiere, the other end of said strip being adapted for securing to said stocking top.

Other and further features and advantages of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which it pertains from the following detailed description of the presently preferred embodiments thereof described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a schematic illustration of the attachment with the elastomeric strip and two fastening means in the form of a unitary member;

Fig. 2 is an illustration of a conventional brassiere to which one element of the attachment has been secured;

Fig. 3 is an illustration of the attachment in place as it is intended to be worn.

Referring to Fig. 1 the unitary member 101 includes an elastomeric strip fitted on one end thereof with suitable fastening means such as the generally U-shaped clasp 104 which is depicted. However, any of the conventional fastening means such as a hook, eye, snap, button or buttonhole, etc. may be employed. Fastening means 103 such as is employed to secure. a garter to a stocking is provided on the terminus of the elastomeric stripremote from the end to which said first-named fastening means is afiixed. The elastomeric strip may be provided intermediate its ends with one or more buckles, adjustable clamping means, etc. 102 capable of being adjusted so as to vary the length of the elastomeric strip. Preferably two such means are employed for the convenience of the wearer. As is well known in the art, the end portions of the elastomeric strip are manipulated in the form of a loop so as to permit adjustment of the length of the strip by operation of said buckle or other adjusting means. It is to be understood that elastomeric strip 101 may be constructed in two or more sections.

Fig. 2 of the drawings illustrates a conventional brassiere which is fitted with fastening means depicted in the form of a loop or tab which is selected to cooperate with fastening means 104 affixed to one end of the elastomeric strip. It is to be understood that means 105 can be in the form of a hook, eye, snap, button, buttonhole, etc. but that this element must cooperate with means 104 so as to form a secure union between the mating elements.

In the embodiment of Fig. 3 the elastomeric strip is depicted as being worn beneath the girdle 109 so as to eliminate any bulkiness or uneven appearance which might manifest itself with body movements of the wearer. It will be seen that the fastening element 104 secured to one end of the elastomeric strip mates with element 105 on the brassiere and that the gripping means 103 secure the other end of the elastomeric strip to the top portion of a stocking. The attachment is easily donned by securing the ends of the elastomeric strip to the brassiere and stocking top respectively and adjusting the length of the strip utilizing means 102 until the bra-cup associated with the removal breast is in correct and normal alignment with the bra-cup associated with the natural breast. However, it is to be understood that the attachment which comprises the present invention does not obviate the need for the usual artificial-breast insert or surgical pad which is customarily used in the cup portion of the brassiere. The present invention functions as a supplement to these known aids by eliminating the problem of ride up and by establishing natural balance and enabling the wearer to obtain the other advantages set forth above. Accordingly, when the brassiere is readied for use the known artificial-breast insert or surgical pad is placed in the cup portion before securing the ends of the elastomeric strip of the brassiere attachment as described above. In view of the fact that the strip is elastomeric,

it will stretch to adjust to the body movement and will always return to the desired position. Since the brassiere and stocking are maintained in a fixed position relative to the body of the wearer, any change in distance between the stocking top and portion of the brassiere to which :the fastening means 105 is attached, due to body movement, will be compensated for by theflexibility of the strip whereby the natural breastline will be preserved.

The brassiere attachment as hereinbefore described fulfills a long standing need and provides the necessary physical balance, improved posture, natural breastline and normal contour which is essential to the psychological readjustment of the mastectomy patient. 7

Various modifications of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art and the illustrative details disclosed are not to be construed as imposing unnecessary limitations on the invention, the essence of which is provision of a novel combination comprising an elastomeric member adapted so as to be secured to a stocking top and a brassiere at a point below the cup portion thereof, and fastening means to be secured to a brassiere which will cooperate with the mating fastening means on the aforesaid elastomeric member so as to provide a continuous elastomeric member extending from a brassiere to a stocking top.

What I claim is:

"1. The combination of a brassiere and attachment therefor, which comprises a short-line brassiere having cup 4 portions and a lower marginal edge portion, a brassiere stabilizing and stocking supporting elastic strip of sufficient length to extend between said brassiere and the top of a stocking being secured at one end thereof to said lower edge portion of the brassiere, the other end of said strip being adapted for securing to said stocking top.

2. The combination according to claim 1, in which means are provided intermediate the ends of said strip for adjusting the end to end length thereof.

3. A brassiere stabilizing and stocking supporting attachment which comprises an elastic strip of sufiicient length to extend between a brassiere and stocking top, said strip being adapted to be secured at one end to the lower marginal portion of a short-line brassiere and at the other end to the top of said stocking, means being provided intermediate the ends of said strip for adjusting the end to end length thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent Great Britain May 31, 1939 

